I went to a stables today and asked if I could have some manure. They said to help myself. I found an area which looked really old and wrotted down. In fact it seemed so wrotted down that it just looked like top soil but very rich and dark and moist. Is this what I am after? tI had tons of worms in it too.

Just don't know what I should be looking for in the muck heap. Any advice much appreciated.

Phew I am so pleased its good stuff! I won't say where the stables is, but to be honest the muck heap is a positive mountain of manure collected over the last 20 years. My small garden could not use all of that in a lifetime!